ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed goaltender Jose Theodore to a two-year contract, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Theodore, who will turn 32 on Sept. 13, won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in 2001-02. The 5’11”, 182-pound native of Laval, Quebec, is a 12-year professional who spent the last two seasons with the Colorado Avalanche. He was 28-21-3 with three shutouts, a 2.44 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage in 2007-08, including a 21-13-2 record, a 2.24 GAA and a .919 save percentage in his last 37 starts.

Theodore started 20 of the Avalanche’s last 21 games in 2007-08 en route to his fifth career 20-win season. He ranked fifth among NHL goaltenders with a 2.24 GAA after January 1. Theodore posted a 6-1 record in shootouts this season and has a 9-2 mark in shootouts in his career.

A second-round choice of the Montreal Canadiens in the 1994 NHL Draft, Theodore spent parts of 10 seasons with Montreal, including his Hart Trophy season in 2002. He also won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender and made his first of two NHL All-Star Game appearances that year.

Theodore appeared in his 400th career game in 2007-08 and has a career mark of 183-197-40, with a 2.65 GAA and a .909 save percentage. He ranks 10th among active goaltenders in career appearances (444) and 14th in victories (183).

The Capitals met the asking price of Huet and his agent before the free agent shopping season started today, but the French-born goaltender elected to wait and accept a contract offer from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Theodore doesnt sign here if he's backing up Huet. The Caps don't sign Theodore if huet is coming back. Ergo, the signing of theodore is an update on Huet because it means huet ain't signing here (as evidenced by the fact that he signed with the Hawks).

RIP 21

"Nah, I trust the laws of nature to stay constant. I don't pray that the sun will rise tomorrow, and I don't need to pray that someone will beat the Cowboys in the playoffs." - Irn-Bru

JansenFan wrote:Theodore doesnt sign here if he's backing up Huet. The Caps don't sign Theodore if huet is coming back. Ergo, the signing of theodore is an update on Huet because it means huet ain't signing here (as evidenced by the fact that he signed with the Hawks).

That's what I was afraid of.
Was it wrong of me to hope against hope that both Huet and Theodore would be wearing Capitals uniforms next season? The thought was good for all of the hour or so that it lasted.

I wish we could have resigned Huet, his consistency really helped us down the strech. At the same time, he is 32, and I think wanted a larger contract then the Caps were willing to offer, considering the prospects we have in the farm system.

Bruce has the authority. When Bruce makes the decision, it's a Redskins decision.

This news is a tragedy. Maybe there was something behind the scenes he didn't like?

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan

I really liked Huet's performance with the Caps, though. And since we essentially gave up on Kolzig to play him, I was hoping he'd stick around a little longer. . .

"I’m never under the assumption that you draft for need. You draft the best available football player on the board. ... Because, in the long run, they are the ones who will help you win the most games." - Scot McCloughan

Irn-Bru wrote:This news is a tragedy. Maybe there was something behind the scenes he didn't like?

Tragedy?????

Dude... it's HOCKEY.

Horrible news for Caps fans... perhaps... but, tragedy????

I think I would say this is a lamentable misfortune, a travesty, a perversion of sports justice, rather than a tragedy.
Tragedy, to me, summons comparison with the Greek writings of Homer.
But to each, his or her own. If the Caps have a major letdown this season, I may join Irn-Bru in the tragedy sentiment, especially if a Caps letdown is combined with a stellar season from Huet with the Blackhawks.

Because I am demented and want to make this a legitimate tragedy, I am hoping to see reports of "Blackhawk Down" this upcoming season, in reference to Huet. Whatever his reasoning, the Caps gave Huet the opportunity to perform and seek that max contract he signed. He could have had the decency to recognize that by sticking around.